Canada’s relationship with China has entered a “new era,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told reporters after his first official trip to the country, though he was short on details when it came to his meeting with PetroChina, or rumoured plans for a new foreign policy review.

The relationship between Canada and China chilled in recent years, thanks to fewer visits from Canadian prime ministers, but this has changed, Baird said during a conference call on Wednesday morning.

When it came to details on those energy and natural resources partnerships, Baird gave few. The minister told reporters Monday that he was due to meet with representatives from PetroChina, but Baird’s spokesman, Chris Day, would not comment on specifics of that meeting.

“Minister Baird spoke to dozens of businesses during his trip,” Day wrote in an email. “Generally, he stressed the importance of trade and investment, while also listening to their concerns and suggestions on how Canada can foster more opportunities.”

In August 2009, PetroChina purchased a 60 per cent stake in Athabasca Oil Sands Corp., valued at approximately $1.9 billion. The current plan by Enbridge to construct its Northern Gateway pipeline involves shipping oil from Alberta to the northern coast of British Columbia, and opening more opportunity to expand trade with China.

Day also refused to comment on plans to develop a new foreign policy strategy.

As Fen Hampson, director of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University wrote on Wednesday, “Ottawa is rife with rumours that such a review was mandated in John Baird’s ministerial letter of appointment, allegedly because the Prime Minister wants a compass to chart Canada’s course in stormy global waters.”

Such a move could involve research into project scope and who might be involved in the next couple of months, before MPs return to the House of Commons in September.

Baird used the Wednesday press conference to emphasize the importance of a relationship with China. While Canadian ties to the United States and the European Union remains important, the Asia-Pacific region cannot be ignored will continue to receive more focus from this government, he said.

With increased involvement in China, questions about human rights continue. On Monday, Baird assured reporters that human rights remain a priority for him, and said he had “frank and open” talk about human rights concerns with Chinese leaders in Beijing, though he would not say exactly what had been discussed.

Meanwhile, reports emerged Wednesday that China raised the death toll of rioters who clashed with police in the Xinjiang region from 14 to 18. The region is home to many Uighurs, a minority population that has increasingly pushed for autonomy in recent years. Chinese officials described the incident as a terrorist attack, but the German-based World Uighur Congress claimed police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators.

Baird said he did not have the opportunity to raise that specific incident, as it came to light after he had left Beijing, but reiterated that he had a “good exchange” on religious freedoms earlier in the week with Chinese officials.

Baird pointed out that those human rights issues cannot overshadow the importance of investment in the Canadian economy.

“I don’t think it’s a choice between one and the other. I think you can do both,” Baird said. “Obviously, it’s well known we’ve had substantial concerns with issues like human rights.

“Where appropriate I’ve taken the opportunity to raise our concerns. I think the important thing is to engage. If you don’t engage, you can’t deal with that.”

On Thursday, Baird heads to Bali, Indonesia to attend the ASEAN ministerial conference and regional forum.